As you know, I'm working on a fictional story, and I am looking for some perspective on one of my characters. She is about my age and single. Before you start thinking this is an autobiography, it definitely is not. Of course, I use my life experiences and those I've seen as inspiration, but her character definitely is not me.
What I am looking for is the character trait/s women who wait until they are older to get married tend to have. Now, I don't need the "She just hasn't met the right guy" line. I need character trait/s that you have noticed in women like this. Think character traits, not reasons.
I want to make sure my character is as authentic as possible, and I'm just looking for some perspective on it. That, and maybe it will jump start the comments after the holiday slump! Again, this isn't me so I won't be offended, even if some of your observations aren't flattering. Be loose and free! :)
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7 comments:
Oh what a fun little project. I think I know just the person. . .Will think on it a little and get back to you.
Career oriented, possibly someone who's well traveled, educated beyond a bachelors degree, comfortable in her skin as a single, confident woman and definitely more settled in life!
highly intelligent, knows what she wants and refuses to settle for less, confident, doesn't worry what others think of her. hmmmm... this sounds like me! :-)
Someone with a fear of commitment maybe, who is afraid of getting tied down. Someone with high self esteem who has a LONG list of what she wants out of a partner. And of course, career oriented with a lot of ambition, like your other commentor said. Or maybe someone who doesn't want to have kids.
Hope that helps!
Thinking of longtime single women I have known. . .Probably this is somebody practical to a fault, and bothered by men who are perhaps not as organized. Tendency to be very educated, maybe a graduate degree. Ambitious, and wanting the same qualities in a mate.
Does the crossword, maybe reads the New York Times. Takes all the fashion mags, but reads Newsweek. Likes museums and gallery exhibitions, and never misses a new restaurant.
A tendency to put off marriage to get a career going . . .relationships are in the picture, but they don't get as much care and feeding as might be necessary for something to develop.
As time goes on, pressure, sometimes pushy as time goes on, from siblings, friends, family for something to happen on the relationship/marriage front.
Re-appearance of doormat suitors (wannabe boyfriends) from high school and college who always liked the single girl, and have never been totally out of the picture.
One broken engagement. Maybe a relationship that got stuck on pause, or a male who was in some way not up to the hubby position, and tried to push it to save the relationship.
Lots of first dates. . . who never got beyond the "job interview" stage of relationships.
The character is someone who had a mother always stressing that you don't need a man in your life to feel complete. A single mother; immigrating from another country. Her mother had bad experiences with men and didn't want her daughter to fall into the same trap. Our character listened to her mother all her life, and now with her passing, has started to face a new chapter of her life and, after some soul-searching, has decided that she would like a male partner. Someone to share a life, not to take care of her.
This angle may allow some flexibility in character development, esp with the relationship between the mother and the main character. As well as with the main character and men.
Wow! Those are a lot of really good ideas. I have read through them all several times and am "chewing" on them. I appreciate all of your help with these! :)
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